Sudden death caused by pulmonary embolism due to cardiac cyst rupture: case report

Abstract

Cardiac echinococcosis is an uncommon parasitosis, but sudden death can be the first manifestation of the disease. It is one of the diseases that must be kept in mind by forensic medicine specialists and clinicians, especially in regions of T & uuml;rkiye where echinococcosis is highly prevalent. The autopsy case is here presented of an 18-year-old woman with no medical history, who was brought to hospital in cardiac arrest after having fainted at home and could not be saved despite emergency resuscitation. In the autopsy, there were no traumatic findings and upon the dissection of the heart many hydatid cysts were observed in the heart, the largest located in the right atrium. Hydatid pulmonary embolism due to cyst rupture was observed bilaterally in the pulmonary arteries, confirmed by histopathological examination. No findings of anaphylactic shock were observed. The diagnosis of hydatid cyst was confirmed with histopathological examinations. This case presentation emphasizes the formation mechanisms of cardiac echinococcosis and hydatid pulmonary embolism complication, the autopsy findings, and the precautions that should be taken by forensic medicine doctors.